Wood has long been used as a material for siding. It is known for its natural beauty, and the many textures and colors available in general for wood are certainly like no other material. As a result, wood is widely preferred and recommended by Glassboro roofing and siding contractors as one of the best siding materials regardless of the regional climate, architectural style of the home, or personal preferences.
When wood siding is properly installed and maintained, you can expect it to last for several decades. Also, the material itself provides an excellent aesthetic appeal to your building and in turn adds value to the home. Selecting wood siding can be quite a tricky process because it involves a lot of factors that only professionals are aware of. Having at least some knowledge about those factors will make the selection process effortless for you, so here are some of the most important factors to consider when selecting wood siding.
The Grade of the Wood
As wood is not usually considered a structural material and comes with restrictions to its application, a grade stamp is not an absolute essential. However, when it comes to siding, wood products are commonly classified into two grades: knotty and premium.
- Knotty-grade: Knotty-grade woods are the most widely available grade of wood, being cheaper due to having many knots and other blemishes and not being completely clear. If the knots are not tight and sound, the wood’s performance as siding could be affected. On the other hand, fragile knots can easily loosen up and may fall out over time. Therefore, you have to be careful when selecting knotted wood siding. Seeking help from a professional Glassboro roofing and siding contractor would be beneficial.
- Premium-grade: Premium-grade woods are the exact opposite; some of these materials may have very few knots and other imperfections while others have absolutely no imperfections and are completely clear, thus carrying the highest grade or designation. Premium-grade woods are usually expensive.
Patterns
Wooden boards that come in standard dimensions can be directly used for siding purposes. However, most boards come with patterns, and patterns not only add a visual appeal to the boards, but they also have an influence on their performance. Glassboro roofing and siding contractors mention that different patterns have different applications. For instance, wooden boards that come with grooved or tongued patterns are best suited for outdoor use, as they are known to be better able to offer protection from different climatic conditions.
Expert roofing and siding contractors also suggest that wood varieties with narrow patterns would be the best choice for siding because boards cut from these undergo minimal dimensional changes when the weather patterns in your region change, say, from wet to dry. Climatic conditions, prevailing weather, architectural style, and humidity levels are some crucial factors to consider when selecting a pattern for your wood siding.
Moisture Level
It is a widely-known fact that wood is a material that swells or shrinks when it gains or loses moisture. This actually happens until it becomes stable with the moisture level present in the air of its surroundings. Also, wood always shrinks more in its width and thickness than it does in its length. The concept is the same with wood siding as well. Regardless of the quality of the material you use or its pattern, your wood siding will shrink and swell. While this is natural, the process can become problematic if the shrinkage or swelling is uneven or happens too rapidly, which can happen when the siding is not nailed properly.
Swelling or shrinkage can be reduced by making sure that the moisture level, or content, of the wood you choose is more or less similar to the local climate during installation. You can specify the moisture content you want in the wood when placing your order. You can also communicate your preferences to your Glassboro Township roofing and siding contractor so that they can take care of it.
Remember, when selecting wood for your siding, the specifications you provide should include the species of the wood that will suit the style of your house; the preferred surface texture, grade, and moisture level that suits your local climate or temperature; and the size and pattern you need.